Keane, Galaxy hammer Sounders as Rogers makes L.A. debut

May 27, 2013 - 5:05 AM
Carson, CA (Sports Network) - Robbie Rogers may have grabbed all the headlines
before the match, but Robbie Keane certainly stole the show as the Irishman
scored a first-half hat trick and assisted on another goal to lead the Los
Angeles Galaxy to a resounding 4-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday at
The Home Depot Center.

Rogers was acquired in a trade with the Chicago Fire this past week and took a
spot on the bench as he was poised to become the first openly gay athlete in
North American team sports to take the field.

In the end, Rogers entered the match in the 77th minute for Juninho, but the
play on the field was certainly dominated by Keane.

The first goal arrived in the 12th minute when Keane exchanged passes with
Marcelo Sarvas and delivered the ball to the front of goal for Sean Franklin
to apply the finishing touch.

Keane doubled the advantage in the 24th when Landon Donovan's cross fell into
his path near the penalty spot and he easily dispatched the ball past helpless
goalkeeper Michael Gspurning.

Mike Magee was the player traded to Chicago for Rogers, and Gyasi Zardes took
his place up top and made the most of the chance by drawing a foul on
Seattle's Djimi Traore inside the area.

Keane stepped to the spot and had his shot saved, but Seattle was called for
encroaching on the play, and Keane buried his second chance.

Brad Evans was the next Sounders player to be called for a penalty inside the
area when he took out Juninho in the 43rd minute, allowing Keane to complete
his hat trick from the spot and handing the Galaxy a commanding 4-0 lead at
the break.

The only real drama in the second 45 minutes was whether or not Rogers would
get into the game, which he did, while Seattle saw its six-match unbeaten run
come to a screeching halt.